MOSCOW, December 15 (R-Sport) - Three goals by Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk helped Russia to a 6-0 demolition of the Czech Republic at their home Euro Hockey Tour stage Saturday.
Russia grabbed its second big win of the Tour stage, the Channel One Cup, after Thursday’s 5-1 thrashing of the Swedes.
“I’m pleased with the game,” Russia coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov said. “In general, the game was pretty good and it was under our control. I haven’t seen any serious negative moments today.”
Metallurg Magnitogorsk goaltender Vasily Koshechkin replaced Konstantin Barulin in goal for Russia and was alert throughout the game for a shutout.
“At the start of the game, he helped us a lot with his confident performance,” Bilyaletdinov said about the goalie, who made 22 saves. “I think he played well.”
Czech coach Josef Palecek lamented the unusual number of mistakes the Czech player made during the game.
“We knew that Russia was strong both in attack and in counterattack,” Palecek said after the game. “And despite knowing all the advantages of the Russian team, we made the sort of mistakes that determined the result of the game.”
Alexander Radulov scored Russia's opener on nine minutes, as he cunningly tipped in the puck after a powerful shot from Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin from the blue line.
Datsyuk doubled the hosts’ lead eight minutes later with an elegant wrist shot into the upper right corner of Ondrej Pavelec’s goal.
Russia widened the gap in the second period, as Sergei Mozyakin scored his third goal of the tournament on a power play and Datsyuk tipped in Radulov’s accurate pass in a stinging counterattack.
A second-period goaltender switch failed to help Czechs to avoid further punishment, as goals from NHL MVP Evgeni Malkin and Datsyuk extended the hosts' lead.
Sweden faces Finland later Saturday.
On Sunday, Russia plays Finland, before the Czech Republic and Sweden face off in the last match of the round.
(Updates the earlier story "Datsyuk Hits Hat-Trick as Russia Crushes Czechs" adding quotes, changing headline)
